Controller for power-driven pumps



Nov. 24, 1925.

B. M. HoRTsR I CONTROLLER FOR POWER DRIVEN PUMBS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 23, 1923 Jun/k701i. 18% m. BMW! BY ATTORNEK Nov. 24, 1925- 1,562,561

' a. M. HORTER CONTROLLER Fo'R POWER DRIVEN PUMPS Filed Feb. 23, 1923 2 Sheet$-$heet 2 L i a 25 ze e1 1N VENTOR. 3W m. Hod hm.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Noe. 24, 192; i 1,562,561 UNITED STATES, PATENT" OFFICE.

BAYARD. M. Human, or xmes'rclv, rENNsYLvANIA, ASSIGNOR- 5:0 mm curiae w HAMMER MFG.' C0., or MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, avcoRroRA'rIoN 01' wleeousm.

oonr'nonpna son rownn nnIvnN Pours. Application filed February. es, 1923. see to. 620,708/

To all whom it may concemi l provided with individual driving motors Be it known that I, Benin) M. a" 11 and 12 adapted to discharge the contents 65 citizen of the-United States, residing at. of a sump'13 or the like, it being, however; Kingston, .in the county" of Luzerne. and understood that the pumps need. not nece .v 5 State of Pennsylvania, have invented new sarlly act upon a common sump or the like.

. anduseful Improvements in Controllersfor Said ,pumps are provided with common I Power-Driven Pumps, of which the follow primin' ing is -.a full,"clear, concise, and exact 14 whmhmay preferably be of the dry g means including a priming pump 7 description, reference being had, to, the ac vacuum type, a driving motor 15 for the compan' ing drawing, forming a ,part ofpriming pump and suitable connections to this specification. beheremafter more fully described.

' power; driven pumps, particularly centrifucomprise pipes or tubes 16 andl connecting gal or other pumps whichfrequireprlmingflthe intake of priming um '14 with the preparatoryito pumping. 1 p highest points respective l o? the chambers Hei etofore it has been proposed, as III my of pumps 9 and. 10 wh p y upon Operation copending pp Ni ,Q Q Qf the vacuum pump a reduced ressure is 7 December 15, 19223-120 provide :for automatic produced ithi th chamber 0 the. fluid I control including; priming, starting and pump and as a result primin liquid is Th's invention frelates to controllers for Said prlming'connections ma preferably 05 stopping 'of such umpsyand the pre n rawn through the pumpi-;inta e; and fills inventionhas among its objects that of pr'othe pump; chamber, the discharge passages viding tor improved; simplified: and also of t e-several pumps being of course roamplified controlof pumps ofsuch general vided with check. valves 18 or th like to character. i enable such reduction-of pressure within 7 Another object is that ot proiiidingl for,. the pump casing. lhe tubes lfi 'and 17 are automatic 1 control Iofa -.plurality of such further provided -with electro-responsive pumps, such control'including provision'flfor valves 19 and 20 respectively ,ada ted to 90 priming of all the pumps-"by means of a close the, connection between the in ividual ;.sing1e priming device. 4 I fillKlQllIl'lPSitl'ld the vacuum pump during Another object is ithat cit providing; iii .no n action of the former.

such a control'systeni, for limiting thestart- Float actuatedswitches 21 and 22 'arealso ing'and primi-ngractionto a single pump at connected to the tubes 16 and 17 respectively 2 any one time. v f ,t'regions which are not lower than and are Another object v1s-,, at ofshnntmg the-e" referably' appreciably. higher than the i 35 starting and priming actionfof thecontrolle q igh Portion of thevindividual pump under eonditions'sueh that-all or certainfloi f ings, said'switches providing for starting i the controlled pumps areincapable of fungi of their-associated driving motors but only tion'ing properly. ,7 H I afterthe water has been so far elevated as Other objects and advantages w ll here n to insure that the pump chamber is filled.

after appear. v In the accompanying drawlrlg 'whereln are provided for the re ective umps 9 Individual sump float switches 23 and 24 illustrated a preferredcmbodiment of 'thd'and' 10, each float switch \in a apted t invention;

j-initiizte startingand priming action of the Figure 1 is a schematic-ind controller 11 n attainment of a given'level l 46 matic view thereof; a

Fig 2 is a sectional viewgillustratingcer gk of liquid within the sump,,7wherees refer -"lg i; abI. said. float switches-are set to Qse Fat 1 min portions of thejcontroller more'fin di erentjlevels of the'fluid withinthe-sum 00 detail; while .Each'of theliquid pumps isfurtherpro- Fig. 3is a simplified 'diagrammaticview'f vided with pressure responsive; control illustrating more clearly-th'econtro1circuit; means 'mcludmgfor pump 9 a switch 25 connections of Fig. 1. I a a iresponsiveto variations in thegzceesure oon- Referring first to, FigQ'Ir-of-the drawing dit'ions obtainmgat the pump i r the same illustrates centrifugal pumps 9 and an additional switch 26 respo barge and veto variations in the reduced pressure at the pump intake and for pump corresponding sure c'ontrolledswitches 27 and 28.

The controller is further provided with an interconnection which may comprise a pressnormallyclosed relay 29 serving to limitthe action. of the controller, for starting,

I to a single pump at any one time.

. individual main switches, 30, 31and 32 reby exponents a and The motors 15; 11 and12 are supplied from a common source L L B through spectively, each of switches 31 and 32 being provided with auxiliary contacts, indicated b respectively, to berespectively open and closed when their associated switches are closed, and vice vers'a;

Thecontroller is further provided withmeans for limiting starting operation of the controller under conditions such that -all or certain ofthe pumps are unable, to perform their normal functions.

For simplicity the aforementioned control limiting device will be described only-as applied to thepump 9, although or course the control of-pump 10 may likewise be provided with similarli'miting means.

lVhile suchlimiting apparatus may in practice assume a multiplicity-0t forms, the

same may preferably comprise limit switches LS LS and Le illustrated in the drawing as combined operated at reduced speed by means or a suitable pilot motor 33. A relay 34 having also a push button switch 35 in parallel therewith is also utilized in control of the pilot motor.

The limit switch LS is adapted under suitable conditions to interrupt the closing coil of switch 30 thereby preventing further unsuccessful attempts to start the pump 9 when the latter is incapable of performing its normally intended function.

' Limit switches LS and LS serve in conjunction with relay 3 1 and push button 35 to provide for control of the pilot motor.

Assuming-the varlous parts to be in the relations illustrated and considering only,

thepump 9 together with its directly associated devices the action of the controller maybe describedas follows, reference being had also to the simplified diagram of'Fig. 3.

Upon a given rise in level of liquid within the sump 13float actuated switch '23.. closes I pump 10 is prevented so long as in a controller drum to be naeaam Closure of the float switch also serves to complete the energizing'circuit of relay 34: whereby saidrelayis caused'to open temmotor 33.

As a result of the atoredescribed action of the controller the priming pump let is operated to reduce the pressure within the pipe porarily to prevent operation of the pilot '16 and the regions connectedtherewith and asa result. liquid from the sump is caused to rise within the intake of pump 9 to fill the casing of said pump for priming. As

operation of the vacuum pump 14 continues the liquid rises above the casing of said pump 9, and within the float chamber of the float actuated switch 21 and when after the aforedescribed filling of the pump chamber 1 the liquid has attained such a level as to lift the'float, said switch 21 is adapted to close] Closure of said switch 21 'serves to complete the closing circuit of main switch 31 for starting motor 11 to drive thepump 9. Also closure of said switch 31 serves through opening of its auxiliary contacts ato interrupt the energizing circuit of main switch 300i the priming pump motor 15 for terminating the priming action of said pump. Opening of the auxiliary contacts 31 of "switch 31 serves also to interrupt the energizing circuit'of solenoidvalve 19 and of relay 29. Said valve thereupon immediately closes cutting ofi communication between of the pressure operated switch 25, which closure will occur very speedily as a result pump 9 andvacuum pump 14, whereas relay main switch 31 also. serves of building up of pressure within the casing of the pump 9, it being noted that at this stage the solenoid valve 19 is closed. It

should be further noted that as illustrated particularly in Fig. 2 the'float controlled,

switch is of a special type and is provided with means such as a piston valve 36 to be operated by'the float for supplementing or rmit entrance of rather duplicating the action of electro-f responsive valve 19 iii-cutting oii' communication with .thevacuumpuinp14. The float; chamber is further "provided with a needlevalve 37 or the like to" I atmospheric airj and; t ereby break the T- vacuum createdwithin the float casing by the vacuum pump 14. further piston valve 38 i 'may also be provided to break the vacuum suddenly and completely upon attaiii'mentof a given maximum height ofliquid--in the j float chamber. Asa result of such breaking" j of the vacuum the liquid within-the valve chamber is adaptedto drainth-ro'ughthe needle valve 37 is of course so adjusted or calibrated as to delay such opening of the switch 21 until after the aforedescribed closing of the pressure responsive switch whereby energization of the closing circuit of switch 31 is maintained.

Closure of the said main switch the power circuit of the pilot motor '33 tuate the various limit switches through approximately a complete cycle or 'untll opening of the limit switch LS which action serves to interrupt the circuit of said pilot motor, it'being also observed that the limit switch LS close simultaneously with switch LS tions in the normal manner the main switch liquid if for any reason,

charge of the pump falls below a given Y 31 is adapted .to remain closed. However when by reason of lowering of the'level of value the pressure responsive switch 25 is likewise adapted to open and interrupt said maintaining circuit with similar results.

Opening of the main switch 31 as a result of any of the aforementioned causes results i in reclosure of auxiliary contacts 31 but if the aforedescribed stopping of the pum 9 resulted from lowering of the level of the I liquid within the sump the float switch '23 I w ll then be troller tending to restart said motor W111 Ell . described open and no action of the conresult;

However, since the opening circuit of re- .lay 34 is now interrupted as aresult of the assumed opening of float switch 23, the aforefserves to reestablish the power circuit of aid relay34, both of the pressure ,26: opens and.

or through limit switch LS and of w Stopping of-the' pilot motor under switch 23 remains closed, one or' the other responsive switches 25 and interrup 1 circuit of main switch 31 for stopping motor '11 and pump 9. Under such conditions obauxiliary contacts 31 of- 31 serves also to complete is adapted to open and long as the pump 9 performsits funcwithin the sump, obstruction of the th value the reduced pressure respects closure of auxiliary contacts 31? w hich are now closed, said pilot motor is therefore adapted to J. operate momentarily for restoring the limit switches to the relation "presetting the same" preparatory to fquent operation in the manner aforedefl' fiscribed.

theseconditions is of-course effected by rea- "son of opening of limit switch LS, However, assume that while :the. float illustrated thereby-a controller of pump 10 in manner as 'aforedescribed ts the maintaining viously the auxiliary contacts 3'1 and the float switch 23 are both closed and the aforedescribed starting and priming action will be repeated, whereas if the condition which caused-opening of switch 25 or 26 persists such switch will again act upon closure of the main switch 31 or shortly thereafter to cause reopening of said switch and causequick stopping of motor 11 and pump 9, whereupon the controller will continue to finake repeated efforts to restart the pump. whereupon said pilot motor operates. to acowever, during each of such attempted start-s the'pilot motor is energized and acts to operate the appreciable range'whereby after a number of unsuccessful attempts at starting, such number being determined limit switches through an by the design of the limit switches and specifically inthe construction illustrated by thelength of the, drum segmentsor the speed of the pilot motor, said drum arrives at a position such that both limit switches LS and Ls 'are open, the former permanently interrupting e closing circuit of main switch and preventing further attempts at restarting whereas the-1im-it switch LS in its open" positionserves to prevent further energization of the circuit of the pilot motor. In this manner the number of unsuccessful attempts to start the pump may be limited as-desiredu With the-limit switches in the relation last described obviously subsequent automatic starting action of the controller as regards the pump 9 is revented. However, upon closure of push circuit of the pilot motor is re-established for shifting the limit switchesinto the re-' p lation illustrated in which relationthe con ditions are suitable for automatic restarting. It 18 of course assumed that the automatic functions of the controller are not to be so reestablished except: tion and removal of the cause of inoperation of thepump' 9. I j

' The operationpf the pump 10 is in all similar to that of. the described except for the absence of the special limiting apparatus and hence further description is deemed unnecessary, the s1m1-.

larity of the general control features being quite obvious from the drawing.

It 1s, however, to be-undcI'stood-that the with pump 9 such features,

plicity. v

.What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

vidually driven pumps, the combination with common priming means for the pumps,

utton the, power aforedes'cribed limiting instrumentalities ,may be and preferablyare applied to the precisely the same.

in conjunction however, beingj omitted herein merely for purpose of simfollowing investigapump 9 just 1. In a controller for a plurality of indiof automatic means limiting the effect of the priming means to the pumps singly.

' dependently operable for comprising i of means providing h 2. In a controller for power driven pumps, the combination with automatic starting means, of" means to terminate the action of said former means automatically following a predetermined number of option. with common priming means pumps, of means restricting the priming act on to the pumps singly,

with reference to any givenpump 001N311};

gent upon prior entry into the casing of such pump of a quantity of priming liquid in excess of that which said casing is capa ble of containing when the pump is fully primed. 4. In a controller for power driven pumps, the combination with a plurality of pumps, priming and starting means, thereelements to act upon the of interconnecting means action of said elements of said pumps in common, providing against with reference to any plurality pumps simultaneously.

5. In a controller for power driven pumps, the combination with a plurality of pumps, priming and starting means therefor comprising elements. to act upon the pumps in common, of interconnecting means providing against action of said elements with reference to any plurality of said pumps simultaneously, said interlocking means comprising a relay adapted to respond upon action of said elements with reference to one pump for temporarily limiting action of such elements to said pump.

6. In a controller for, power driven pumps, the combination with means pro viding for starting the pump automatically,

of means providing for automatically rendering said former means inactive under given conditions of inoperation of the pump.

7. In a controller for power driven pumps, the combination with means providing for starting the pump automatically,

for automatically limiting the number of times said former means is permitted to perform its starting action for the individual start .1ng means for the several pumps and means. rendering the action of said starting means prior to inception. and continuance of normal operation of the pump.

8. In .a ,controller for ower driven pumps, the combination .wit, means providing for starting. the pump automatically, of means providing for stopping of the pump under givenabnormal conditions and means for terminating repetition of the action of said first mentioned means during continuance of such abnormal conditions.

9. In a controller for power driven pumps, ing for automatic starting of the pump and means providing for automatic stop ing of thefpump under given conditions, 0 limiting means for said starting means and means subjecting said limiting means to control by both said starting and said stopping means.

- 10. In a controller for power driven pumps, the combination with means providing for automatic starting of the pump and means providing for automatic stopping of thepump under given conditions, of control means for said starting means comprising a limit switch adapted when in a given position to prevent action of the starting means, and means to act-within each cycle of operation of said starting means for advancing said limit switch toward such position.

11. In a controller for power driven pumps, the combination with means providing for automatic starting of the pump and means providing for automatic stopping of the pump under given conditions, of control means for said starting means com prising a limit switch adapted when in a given position to prevent action of the starting means,

position, associated means to act during stopping of the pump undernormal conditions to prevent saic from-thereafter remaining in such position and associated :means providing for stopping and maintaining said limit switch in such position following a... predetermined BAYARD M. HoRTERQ means to act within each cycle of operation of said starting means on the combmation with means providfor advancing said limit switch toward such switch temporarily 

